About the'Free Space' collaborations: "Free Space" is the title for a series of collaborations between alban elved dance company and scientists from different universities. The concept is to join artists, engineers, and humanists to explore how technology might expand human creativity and how forms of creativity might offer insights into expanding technology -- all Free Space collaborations are uniquely different and give both arts and sciences equal value. "Free Space" focuses on the meaning of technology in regards to itself as well as to our personal lives by using technology in both customary and new ways.

About "A Link With The Darkness":Before technology... before telescopes... human and the night sky were once linked by human's imagination—myths and fairy tales. The Milky Way — the "lane of white powder" — is a sign of home—Earth's home galaxy. The Milky Way and the rhythmic patterns of constellation have sparked so many ancient tales in different cultures. Now, technology and urban development permanently change teh way we see our world. "Light pollution" and our busy lives make it harder and harder for us to stargaze. Most of us don't look up very often because we cannot see many stars in or near the city. Are we losing the connection with the darkness? Are we losing the dreams and imagination that once linked us with the stars and the night sky? Do we want to reconnect with the night sky, dreams and imagination?

To express these questions, Yue-Ling Wong created animation sequences of flying dragon, spiral galaxy, Earth and Moon, skyline, and cave drawings to link the night sky, imagination and history in this piece. The flying dragon in this piece is used as a symbol for the Milky Way which in turn represents the night sky. The dragon's coming and going is used as a metaphor of our seeing and losing sight of our imagination and the heavenly view of the night sky. These animations were created as 3-D stereoscopic animation using Alias Maya and composited in Adobe Premiere. With stereoscopic projection on a silver screen and circular polarizer 3-D glasses, the audiences watch these virtual animated creatures and environments emerging on stage with the dancers.

Supported by: alban elved dance company received support from the Winston-Salem Foundation, The Vintage Theatre and the Millennium Center. "A Link With The Darkness" received project support grants from the North carolina Arts Council and the Winston-Salem Arts Council.

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Premiere: December, 2004 Duration: 20 minutes

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